Bridle.



PATENTED FEB. 27, 1906.

H. I. HANSBROUGH.

BRIDLE.

' APPLICATION FILED JUN UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 27, 1906.

Replication filed June 19,1905. Serial No. 266,014.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, HUBBARD I. HANS- BROUGH, a citizen of the United States, residin at Hodgenville, in the county of Larue and tate of Kentucky, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Bridles, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to an improvement in bridles, and more particularly what is termed a blind-bridle.

The object of my invention is to provide a blind or winker which will conform to the size and shape of any horses head, one that I will not chafe and will not obstruct the horses sight, as in the ordinary bridle, and in so doing I provide a means whereby the horse can see at the side as well as in front, but not to the rear, as in the ordinary blind or winker the blind is often flopping in the way and striking the horse in the face and preventing to a great extent the vision of the horse.

Another object of my invention is to provide a blind or winker which will not take different positions by sliding up and down, whereby one blind is very apt to be higher than the other, which comes from carelessly bridling a horse or the blind coming in contact with some object, thereby displacing it, which will not only interfere with the sight of the horse, but also giving the horses head a slovenly appearance. By my invention I overcome these difiiculties by having the blinds or winkers securely fastened to the bridle or head-stall, and instead of having them thrown to the front I turn them forward, whereby the horse has a clear view in all directions but the rear.

My invention consists of certain other novel features of construction and combinations of parts, which will be hereinafter described, and pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a front view of my invention applied to a horse. Fig. 2 is a rear and side view, and Fig. 3 is a detail.

A represents the blinds or winkers, which are made of a suitable thickness of leather and, as in most blinds, are composed of two or more pieces of leather which are stitched together, as at 1, thereby making a very stiff and substantial blind or winker. Side strips 2 2 of the bridle receive the edge of the blind therebetween and are secured together by any suitable means, referably thread, whereby the blind is rigid y held.

The blind or winker A extends outwardly from the side strips 2 2 instead of being thrown to the front, as in the ordinary bridle, and its upper end is brought inward against the brow-band 3,which is mounted on the crown-piece 6. Secured to the u per end of the blind or winker is a winkengrace 4, by any suitable means, which passes in front of the brow-band 3 through loops 5 5, thereby holding the blinds in one position and preventin their slipping. The blind or winker might ie secured to the brow-band 3 in any other manner desired, such as having a rivet or other means passing through the browband and winker-brace.

It will be seen from the foregoing the advantages obtained by my invention. By having the blinds or winkers extending in an outward position they give better sight to the horse and their upper ends fitting close to the brow-band 3, where they are secured by the winker-brace 4, which passes and is secured in front of the brow-band, not only keeps the blinds in position, but also prevents them from flopping over the horses face and getting out of position.

It is evident that many slight changes might be made in the form and arrangement of the several parts described without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention, and hence I do not wish to limit myself to the exact construction herein set forth; but

Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. A bridle comprising side strips, a crownpiece, a brow-band and blinds or winkers secured to the side strips along a portion of their inner edges, the free ends of the blinds or winkers extending upwardly and bent forwardly and a winker-brace connecting the extreme ends of the blinds or winkers and attached to the browband whereby the main portions of the blinds or winkers are held braced in an outward direction at approximately right angles to the side strips.

2. A bridle comprising side strips, a crownpiece, a brow-band, blinds or winkers secured to the side strips along a portion of their inner edges, their free ends extending upwardly and inwardly and bent forwardly, and a winker-brace connecting the extreme ends of the blinds or winkers, and attached to the brow-band, whereby the main portions of the blinds are held braced in an outwardly direc- IIO tion atapproxirnately right angles to the ing portion, and passing over the brow-band 16 side strips. and through the loops.

3. A bridle, consisting of side strips, a In testimony whereof I afiix my signature ciown-pieoe, and a broiwgband mozlinfied on in presence of two witnesses.

t e orowniece, sai row-ban aving loops thereor i blinds or winkers secured to HUBBARD HANSBROUGH' the side strips and extending outwardly, one Witnesses:

end of the blinds projecting upwardly and ROBT. T. HARRIS,

inwardly, and means engaging said projeet- L. B. HANDLY. 

